The Greatest Love of All

“Learning to love yourself.” 

That’s how the pop song with the above title defines the greatest love of all. 

It has nothing to do with how the Bible defines it, as summarized in this verse, KJV version, that I memorized in Sunday school as a little girl: 

This was the theme of our pastor’s message last Sunday. It took him an hour to explain this in great detail, but having a short attention span—not shorter than GenZs’ or tadpoles’ though—I had it all wrapped up briefly (my training in advertising) in my notebook, using his listicle and adding my reflections. My net take-away:    

1. God’s love is unconditional: “For God so loved the world [kosmos]," peppered with sinful men of various kinds. The adverb “so” emphasizes the depth and breath of this love. 

2. God’s love is sacrificial: “That he gave . . .” It was a concrete action, sharing what He owns and treasures.  

3. God’s love is valuable: “only son . . .” God did not send just anybody; He sent His valued only son. 

4. God’s love is personal: “Son . . .” His son became flesh so he could be close to us, to have a personal relationship with us.  

5. God’s love is accessible: By sending Jesus to earth, God enabled insignificant humans to talk to him freely, going to him for help, learning from him, and asking favors where they could.

6. God’s love is just. “ Whosoever believeth in him will not perish . . .” The  justice here is that there will be consequences of sin. Those who choose to turn their back on Jesus by mocking him and doing the opposite of everything good will have their day of reckoning. 

7. God’s love is beneficial. “. . . but have everlasting life.”  By dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus made it possible for us to receive forgivenss, be wiped totally clean, and that a beautiful, everlasting reward at the end of the road awaits us. Those who walk with him will never die but will live forever.

In a word, the greatest love of all is grace. Jesus came for all—even  for the undeserving. It is our choice to accept him or reject him. 

Valentine’s Day, as the world invented it, is about love. 

Note to self: may I always treasure in my heart the root and the essence of the greatest love of all.